1st USMC F-35C Jets Arrive MCAS Miramar Next Week VMFA-314

[spazsinbad]

First F-35C Stealth Fighter Jets to Arrive at Miramar Next Week
14 Jan 2020 Chris Jennewein

"...The new jets are assigned to the “Black Knights” of Fighter Attack Squadron 314, which has been training in the new planes at Naval Air Station Lemoore since the ceremonial final flight of an F/A-18 Hornet in June.

“This transition process really began at the sundown ceremony,” said Lt. Col. Cedar Hinton, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “Since then, we’ve been moving toward becoming a fully-operational F-35C squadron. Starting at the end of September, we began preparing for safe-for-flight operations certification.” The safe-for-flight operations certification is the final milestone for the squadron’s transition to the Lightning II...."

Source: https://timesofsandiego.com/military/20 ... next-week/

[Corsair1963]

The "Argonauts"of VFA-147 are going to deploy with the USS Carl Vinson in 2021. Do we know when VMFA-314 is going to sea and what ship???

[mixelflick]

Such great news!

I love seeing the Marines finally getting new equipment. They've made due for so long, with so little. The maintenance/mission capable stats of their Hornet fleet are downright scary, and the A/V-8B would be in the same boat were it not for the UK purchase of its airframes.

A Marine Corps flush with factory fresh F-35B's/C's is going to add a whole new dimension to US warfighting capabilities. Those B's on ships like the America effectively transform what, 10-12 such carriers into uber-effective strike platforms?!

Semper Fi and all that

[usnvo]

The "Argonauts"of VFA-147 are going to deploy with the USS Carl Vinson in 2021. Do we know when VMFA-314 is going to sea and what ship???

Carl Vinson, 2021

[steve2267]

Such great news!

I love seeing the Marines finally getting new equipment. They've made due for so long, with so little. The maintenance/mission capable stats of their Hornet fleet are downright scary, and the A/V-8B would be in the same boat were it not for the UK purchase of its airframes.

A Marine Corps flush with factory fresh F-35B's/C's is going to add a whole new dimension to US warfighting capabilities. Those B's on ships like the America effectively transform what, 10-12 such carriers into uber-effective strike platforms?!

Semper Fi and all that

Uhhhh... they've only been getting brand new Bees since.. when -- 2015? For going on five years?

[Corsair1963]

The "Argonauts"of VFA-147 are going to deploy with the USS Carl Vinson in 2021. Do we know when VMFA-314 is going to sea and what ship???

Carl Vinson, 2021

VFA-147 will deploy with the USS Carl Vinson in 2021. Yet, I don't believe VMFA-314 is.....Which, is why I posted the question?

[Corsair1963]

Miramar Ramp this week....

MiramarX.jpg (21.93 KiB) Viewed 43876 times

[raameagle]

That’s an exercise that’s being held at Miramar. The F-35Bs in the picture are all based at Yuma but I suspect that the new sunshades in the background will be for VMFA-314.
Regards
Mark

[spazsinbad]

Lightning Strikes Miramar: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing welcomes Corps’ first F-35C
22 Jan 2020 1st Lt. Charles Allen; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar / 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

"MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - 3rd Marine Air Wing made history when it welcomed the Marine Corps’ first F-35C Lightning II to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Jan. 21, 2020. The Marines and sailors of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, the “Black Knights,” are extremely proud of their legacy and tradition of making aviation history....

...The next 3rd MAW squadron set to transition from the F/A-18 is VMFA-225, which will celebrate their last F/A-18 flight on Jan. 23, 2020...."

Photo: "U.S Marine Corps Lt. Col. Cedar L. Hinton, commanding officer of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), lands VMFA-314's first F-35C Lightning II on Marine Air Station Miramar, Calif., Jan. 21, 2020. The F-35C will give 3rd MAW a technological advantage by bringing the next wave of 5th generation fighter jets to its arsenal. The F-35C represents the next step in aviation, introducing upgraded internal fuel storage capacity, enhanced stealth capability and the reliability found in other F-35 variants. These capabilities will ensure 3rd MAW is well-equipped to meet the threats of tomorrow. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Dominic Romero)" https://www.dvidshub.net/download/image/6034376 (JPG 10.2Mb)

Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/359904/li ... irst-f-35c

VMFA-314 1st F-35C MCAS Miramar Arrival 22 Jan 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZHtlht8jTE

[mixelflick]

Such great news!

I love seeing the Marines finally getting new equipment. They've made due for so long, with so little. The maintenance/mission capable stats of their Hornet fleet are downright scary, and the A/V-8B would be in the same boat were it not for the UK purchase of its airframes.

A Marine Corps flush with factory fresh F-35B's/C's is going to add a whole new dimension to US warfighting capabilities. Those B's on ships like the America effectively transform what, 10-12 such carriers into uber-effective strike platforms?!

Semper Fi and all that

Uhhhh... they've only been getting brand new Bees since.. when -- 2015? For going on five years?

I was referring to the C, and am well aware the B went IOC first with the Marines, then everyone else. And yes, it was 2015 when that occurred.

[f35phixer]

That’s an exercise that’s being held at Miramar. The F-35Bs in the picture are all based at Yuma but I suspect that the new sunshades in the background will be for VMFA-314.
Regards
Mark

I was like WTF are F-22's doing there? They are F-22'S? Old EYES....

[spazsinbad]

First Marine F-35C Squadron Attains Next Aviation Milestone
22 Mar 2020 Gunnery Sgt. Jon Holmes; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar / 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

"Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 celebrated the results of over five months of F-35C Lightning II transition training when they received their Safe-For-Flight Operations Certification at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar March 20, 2020. VMFA-314 and the U.S. Navy's F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125, diligently worked together toward this historic accomplishment even while conducting precautionary measures to stem the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

SFFOC is an important milestone for VMFA-314's transition to the F-35C Lightning II from the F/A-18 Hornet. It marks the end of the squadron's oversight by VFA 125, which was responsible for ensuring that the "Black Knights" received quality training during their temporary relocation to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, from Sept. 2019 to Jan. 2020.

The SFFOC process ensures the squadron is manned with qualified personnel to implement maintenance and safety programs in support of fleet operations. All transitioning squadrons are required to complete this certification prior to independently conducting flight operations....

...The certification process encompasses areas such as equipment, personnel and programs. Requirements include the installation and operation of management information systems and their accompanying support networks. There is also a requirement for operational F-35C squadrons to maintain robust maintenance programs and complete various inspections ranging from conventional weapons technical proficiencies to safety. Squadron personnel complete a transition curriculum and maintain specific competencies in accordance with Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures and Standardization guidelines...."

Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/365655/fi ... -milestone

[spazsinbad]

First Marine Corps Carrier-Capable F-35C Squadron Now Ready to Deploy
02 Dec 2020 Gidget Fuentes

"The Marine Corps’ first carrier-capable squadron of F-35C Lightning II jets reached initial operational capability on Tuesday, a key certification ahead of its first deployment on an aircraft carrier, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing officials announced. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 is the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C variant of the Joint Strike Fighter after retiring its legacy F/A-18A/C Hornet jets and getting its first F-35s earlier this year. The “Black Knights” squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif.

The certification is critical for the Marine Corps’ intent to continue to deploy strike fighter jets on aircraft carriers and integrate with carrier air wings.

“IOC is a significant milestone not only for 3rd MAW but also the Marine Corps. VMFA-314 is the first F-35C squadron in the Marine Corps,” Lt. Col. Duncan French, VMFA-314’s executive officer, said in the 3rd MAW announcement. “The F-35C’s unique capabilities, compared to the F-35B[?] and legacy aircraft, provide the Marine Corps with a complementary increase in combat projection and the ability to operate from the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers.”...

...“Our maintenance department was critical to the success of IOC. In addition to accepting and inspecting the multiple aircraft that arrived throughout the year, the Marines maintained a high level of aircraft readiness,” French said. “Those mission-capable aircraft allowed the pilots to train in the appropriate missions required of IOC, as well as contributed towards the readiness metrics of IOC.”

They spent part of that time at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., training and working with the Navy’s “Rough Riders” of Fighter Squadron 125, the fleet replacement squadron for the F-35C. The squadron got its safe-for-flight operations certification in March, meaning they could train at home without the supervision of VFA-125. This past summer, VMFA-314 crews joined in a multi-aircraft strike package during exercise Summer Fury supporting Marine Corps training for expeditionary advanced base operations.

The Marine Corps had planned to buy 67 F-35Cs for four carrier-capable squadrons, according to the service’s 2019 Aviation Plan. Earlier this year, however, the service decided to consider reducing – from 16 to 10 – the number of jets per squadron, but Commandant Gen. David Berger hasn’t yet committed to reducing the buys due to ongoing force structure reviews and a planned aviation assessment."

Source: https://news.usni.org/2020/12/02/first- ... -to-deploy

[spazsinbad]

The Marine Corps' First Carrier-Capable F-35 Squadron Is Ready for Combat
02 Dec 2020 Oriana Pawlyk

"...Officials said a number of standards had to be met before an aircraft reached IOC, including a minimum number of Marines trained to fly and support the stealth fighter.

The squadron's first F-35C arrived in January; officials in March said at the time that VMFA-314, known as the "Black Knights," had achieved its "safe for flight" milestone, bringing the unit one step closer to deployment. Officials did not respond to questions about how many F-35Cs the squadron has now....

...VMFA-314 is also a squadron of historical firsts: It was the first squadron in the Navy Department to fly the F/A-18 Hornet jet in the 1980s.

Additionally, the squadron was the first to transition to the F-4B Phantom ground-attack aircraft in 1961; and the "Black Knights" were the first members of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to transition to jet aircraft in 1952 and fly the F-9F Panther.

"The successful transition of the Black Knights to the F-35C culminating in this IOC declaration is a testament to the squadron's distinguished legacy of pioneering new aircraft," said Lt. Col. Brendan Walsh, VMFA-314 commanding officer."

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... ombat.html

[Corsair1963]

What Carrier/CVW will VMFA-314 be assigned too???